1 INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS

Understanding the fundamentals of research

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the learning experience, students must be able to:

1. Explain the research role and function.
2. Explain and illustrate the value of research in development and in decision-making.
3. Describe the different types and methods of research and give examples of each.
4. Describe and explain the research process.

A. RESEARCH METHODS VERSUS METHODOLOGY

Research Methods

• Research methods are the methods by which you conduct research into a
subject or a topic.
• Research methods involve conduct of experiments, tests, surveys, etc.
• Research methods help us collect samples, data and find a solution to a
problem.
• All those methods which are used by the researcher during the course of
studying his research problem.

Research Methodology

• Research methodology explains the methods by which you may proceed

with your research.
• Research methodology involves the learning of the various techniques that
can be used in the conduct of research and in the conduct of tests,
experiment, surveys, and critical studies.
• The procedures by which researchers go about their work of describing,
explaining, and predicting phenomena which aims to give the work plan of
research.

3. Groups defining Research Methods

1. In the first group we include those methods which are concerned with the collection
of data. These methods will be used where the data already available is not sufficient
to arrive at the required solution.

2. The second group consists of those statistical techniques which are used for
establishing relationships between the data and the unknowns.

3. The third group consists of those methods which are used to evaluate the accuracy of
the results obtained.

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B. WHAT IS RESEARCH?

• An original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge

• A pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation, comparison, and experiment
• An intellectual activity responsible for correcting mistakes and removing existing
misconceptions.

• A process in looking for solution of a given problem.

• Systematic method consisting of enunciating the problem, formulating a hypothesis,

collecting data, analyzing the data, and reaching certain conclusions either in the forms
of solution (s) towards the concerned problem or in generalizations for some theoretical
formulation.

C. CRITERIA FOR RESEARCH

a) Philosophy/ies - Is being undertaken within a framework of set of

philosophies. Philosophies means approaches, e.g. qualitative, quantitative,
and the academic discipline in which you have been trained.
b) Validity & Reliability - Uses procedures, methods and techniques that have
been tested for their validity and reliability. Validity – correct procedures
have been applied to find answers to a question; Reliability – the quality of a
measurement procedure that provides repeatability and accuracy.
c) Unbiased and objective - Designed to be unbiased and objective.

D. PURPOSE OF RESEARCH

1. Exploration

It is the finding out about some previously unexamined phenomenon. It is

particularly useful when researchers lack a clear idea of the problems they will meet
during the study.

Through exploration, researchers:

• Develop concepts more clearly.

• Formulate research hypothesis.
• Establish priorities.
• Improve the final research design.
• Develop operational definitions.

2. DESCRIPTION

• Refers to the data-based information-gathering activities

• Situation and events are described through studies.
• Descriptive studies try to discover answers to the questions who, what, when, where,
and sometimes how

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 Example:

• What are the characteristics of the people who are involved in city crime? Are
they young? Middle aged? Poor?
• Who are the potential buyers of the new product? Men or women? Urban people
or rural people?

3. CAUSAL EXPLANATION

Goes beyond description and attempts to establish cause-and-effect

relationship between variables. It explains the phenomenon that describes study
observed, casual studies.

Example:

• Why are people involved in crime? Can we explain this because of the present
crisis in the job market? Or for lack of parental care?
• Will buyers be motivated to purchase the new product in a new container? Can
attractive advertisements motivate them?

4. PREDICTION

• Seeks to answer when and in what situations that event will occur, if it can be
provided plausible explanation for the vent in question.
• It predicts when the event will occur.

Other Objectives: Broad Categories

• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights.

• To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation, or a
group
• To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is
associated.
• To test causal relationship between two or more than two facts or situations
• To know and understand a phenomenon with a view to formulating the problem
precisely.
• To describe accurately a given phenomenon and to test hypothesis.

Characteristics of Research

• Controlled - Minimizes the effects of other factors affecting the relationship.

• Valid and Verifiable - This concept implies that whatever you conclude based on your
findings is correct and can be verified by you and others.
• Rigorous - Ensures that the procedures followed to find answers to questions are
relevant, appropriate, and justified.

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 • Empirical - Conclusions are based upon hard evidence gathered from information
collected from real life experience or observations.
• Systematic - The procedure is adopted to undertake an investigation follow a certain
logical sequence.
• Critical - The process of investigation must be foolproof and free from drawbacks.

E. CATEGORY 1: APPLICATION OF RESEARCH STUDY

Pure/Basic Research

involves developing and testing theories and hypotheses that are intellectually
challenging to the researcher but may or may not have practical application at the present
time or in the future. An investigation on basic principles and reasons for occurrence of a
particular event or process or phenomenon. It provides a systematic and deep insight into a
problem and facilitates extraction of scientific and logical explanation and conclusion on it

The outcomes of basic research form the basis for many applied research. Basic
research sometimes may not lead to immediate use or application. It is not concerned with
solving any practical problems of immediate interest.

Applied Research

In an applied research one solves certain problems employing well known and
accepted theories and principles. Applied research is concerned with actual life research such
as research on increasing efficiency of a machine, increasing gain factor of production of a
material, pollution control, preparing vaccination for a disease, etc.

An academic institution such as a university will have a specific applied research

program funded by an industrial partner interested in that program. Done to solve specific,
practical questions; for policy formulation, administration and understanding of a
phenomenon.

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CATEGORY 2: FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF OBJECTIVES

Descriptive - attempts to describe systematically a situation, problem, phenomenon, service,

or programme, or provides information about, say, living condition of a community, or
describes attitudes towards an issue.

Correlational - attempts to discover or establish the existence of a relationship/

interdependence between two or more aspects of a situation.

Explanatory - attempts to clarify why and how there is a relationship between two or more
aspects of a situation or phenomenon.

Exploratory - undertaken to explore an area where little is known or to investigate the

possibilities of undertaking a particular research study (feasibility study/pilot study).

CATEGORY 3: INQUIRY MODE

Structured

The structured approach to inquiry is usually classified as quantitative research.

Everything that forms the research process- objectives, design, sample, and the questions that
you plan to ask of respondents- is predetermined. It is more appropriate to determine the extent
of a problem, issue or phenomenon by quantifying the variation.

Unstructured

The unstructured approach to inquiry is usually classified as qualitative research. It is

more appropriate to explore the nature of a problem, issue or phenomenon without
quantifying it. Main objective is to describe the variation in a phenomenon, situation, or
attitude.

F. RESEARCH DESIGN: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE

Quantitative

• based on the measurement of quantity or amount

• a process is expressed or described in terms of one or more quantities.
• “bigger is better”
• Examining the randomness of the data, its mean and variation

Qualitative

• concerned with qualitative phenomenon involving quality.

• It is non-numerical, descriptive, applies reasoning and uses words. Its aim is to get
the meaning, feeling and describe the situation.
• “size does not matter”
• Investigating why certain data are random.

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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Strengths

Because of close researcher involvement, the researcher gains an insider's view of the
field. Qualitative descriptions can play the important role of suggesting possible
relationships, causes, effects and dynamic processes. Because statistics are not used, but
rather qualitative research uses a more descriptive, narrative style, this research might be of
particular benefit to the practitioner as she or he could turn to qualitative reports in order to
examine forms of knowledge that might otherwise be unavailable, thereby gaining new
insight.

Limitations

The problem of adequate validity or reliability is a major criticism. Contexts,

situations, events, conditions and interactions cannot be replicated to any extent, nor can
generalizations be made to a wider context than the one studied with any confidence. The
time required for data collection, analysis and interpretation is lengthy. Issues of anonymity
and confidentiality present problems when selecting findings.

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Strengths

• Precision - through quantitative and reliable measurement

• Control - through sampling and design.
• Ability to produce causality statements, using controlled experiments.
• Statistical techniques allow for sophisticated analyses.
• Replicable

Limitations

It fails to take account of people's unique ability to interpret their experiences,

construct their own meanings and act on these. It leads to the assumption that facts are true
and the same for all people all of the time. Quantitative research often produces banal and
trivial findings of little consequence due to the restriction on and the controlling of variables.
It is not totally objective because the researcher is subjectively involved in the very choice of
a problem as worthy of investigation and in the interpretation of the results.

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 G. RESEARCH PROCESS

Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry

out research and the desired sequencing of these steps.

H. QUALITIES OF A GOOD RESEARCH

Systematic - Research is structured with specified steps to be taken in a specified sequence

in accordance with the well-defined set of rules.

Empirical - It implies that research is related basically to one or more aspects of a real
situation and deals with concrete data that provides a basis for external validity to research
results.

Replicable - Allows research results to be verified by replicating the study and thereby
building a sound basis for decisions.

Logical - This implies that research is guided by the rules of logical reasoning and the logical
process of induction and deduction are of great value in carrying out research.

References

Mishra, S.B., & Alok, S. (2011). Handbook of research methodology: A compendium for
scholars and researchers. Educreation Publishing.

_________. (2006). Introduction to data analysis handbook. Migrant & Seasonal Head Start
Technical Assistance Center. Academy for Educational Development.

________. (2015). Module on research methods. University of Gondar, College of Medicine

and Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health.

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 Exercise No.1
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS

Name: _________________________ Date: ______________

Yr/Crs/Sec: _____________________ Score: _____________

Discuss the following:

1. Differentiate research methods and research methodology.

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2. When to use qualitative research?

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3. Discuss in brief the research process.

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